What Is Anxiety Blog

Can Zoloft worsen OCD/anxiety symptoms (29 years old - 3 years on Zoloft)?

I am on Zoloft for anxiety disorder. The side effect was at first a decrease in OCD symptoms and depression for two and a half years. When I went from 50mg to 100mg due to depression, the OCD symptoms seem to increase.

After a recent twenty day stay in the hospital due to pneumonia complications, I have returned home and back to my normal schedule. For almost two weeks I was without Zoloft. Though I was sedated for a bit of that time, I was OCD free for about two-three weeks of awake time. I felt free of OCD finally for the first time in twenty years. After a couple weeks of taking the medication again, my mood seems slightly down and my OCD seems to be back again.

My symptoms aren't life altering, but they are annoying. I understand that after suffering a traumatic experience heightened OCD is normal, but could Zoloft be irritating my condition?

Does anyone know of similar experiences?

Thank you in advance :).

I'm also on Zoloft for anxiety disorder, and have been for 3.5 years now. After a couple of weeks, I noticed a complete change — no more anxiety, but also no more OCD…until something REALLY starts to bother me.

I think OCD is an overactive mind trying NOT to focus on the things that are bothering a person. Under normal circumstances, on Zoloft, my little OCD rituals disappeared, but under major stress they return in small ways. I take it as a good sign..that I'm still human and still able to feel.

Maybe you need to have your dosage increased…but you really need to give it that six weeks to build up in your system again.

Also, my brother had the same issues as I did, but without the OCD, and he built a tolerance to Zoloft to the point where 200 mg wasn't helping him anymore! They switched him over to Cymbalta, which is an SSRI and also works on the nervous system on another level, and he says it is working much better and that the improvement was almost immediate!

Good luck to you!

What helps medication resistant depression, anxiety and ocd symptoms.?

I have tried almost everything there is to try - homeopathy, hypnotherapy, NLP, EFT, vitamins, diet, exercise to list but afew.
Serious answers only please, I really am looking for quality advice.
I saw a psychiatric nurse today who has arranged for me to see a psychiatrist soon. I'm just wondering what to expect as I'm really scared - hence my question.

one thing you need to know is that you are not alone, in your depression or trying to resolve it. you need to have someone you can talk to, a friend, pastor, or anyone that you can completely trust with your feeling. i have found that i get depressed when things are really stressful for me and i feel overloaded. just having a good listener to grip to sometimes helps, keep your self busy, dont fall into the traps of not eating, sleeping alot, overeating, smoking and drinking, this make it worse. make a list of what bothers you deep down, got thru the list and mark off the ones that you have no control over, put the others in order of importance, try to fix or forget a problem a week. just remember what you are worring about today will be forgotten next week. LIFE IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU BUT HOW YOU REACT TO IT.

HOPE THIS HELPS
and one more thing, always remember GOD loves you and is on your side.

Driving test anxiety symptoms. Are they normal? PLEASE HELP ME.?

I get very nervous whan i have my driving test.
I have my 6th soon. Having failed all through nerves. LOL.

I experience :

Very dry mouth. So dry i can't swallow, or speak
Trembling
Feeling sick
Pounding heart
Sweating

What causes these symptoms ?.
What can i do to control them ?
Why do i experience them ?

I'm having Hypnotherapy, before test. So hopefully that will help my anxiety.

Would love advice, on not controling the physical symptoms. Please. Thankyou
Just need reassurran
LOL. I MEANT, I WOULD LOVE ADVICE ON CONTROLING THESE SYMPTOMS

i dont know, but your not alone, im even anxious as i practice driving. do you have cold feet and hands too? cause i do. i also feel nauseated.

I have huge Needle Anxiety. Having Blood Test soon. How can i control these symptoms. PLEASE HELP,DESPEARTE !

Suffer from a severe, fear of Needles.

Having a Blood Test soon, PANICKING. Can't cope with Needles.

I Hyperventilate
Sweat
Mouth so dry, can't speak or swallow
Shake
Vomit
Pounding Heart.

Unfortunatley i need this Blood Test.
How can i control my anxiety symptoms ?

Please help me. Please don't tease me. Hate being like this

I have this too.

Tell your doctor about it. If possible he may prescribe an anti-anxiety drug for the test.

At the very least you have to tell the person drawing your blood. I can't even see the needle or I freak out, so I tell them and then I close my eyes. They also let me lie down while they take blood (I'm less likely to faint if I'm prone).

I took a stress class and got a guided meditation that I put on my mp3 player and listening to that while getting any kind of shot or having blood drawn helps.

Everyone I've had draw blood has understood and been very caring. My dentist even let my husband in the room to hold my hand when I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth out.

I also cry during the whole procedure, but if everyone is pre-warned they are OK with it.

Good Luck! I hope everything goes well.

What Anxiety Medication Has the lest side effects and withdrawal symptoms?

What Anxiety Medication Has the lest side effects and withdrawal symptoms,

And works well,

Buspar…not addictive and I took it as a PRN (as needed) and it helped tremendously.

I might also recommend THC as a PRN…it's very effective for anxiety, but not always a practical remedy.

i get really bad anxiety symptoms..what do i do to stop them?

so i'm like permanently having an anxiety attack 24/7..my stomach tightens up, my vision changes and how i view everything around me, i feel outside or disconnected with my body and mind, my heart races, headaches, get really hostile and start taking it out on anyone i come across..i just don't know how to make it all go away. i need some help, some suggestions.

Go see a doctor and get him to prescribe you either Zoloft or Lexapro. Also, you will need a kick start like Xanax to help calm you down at first wen you have these panic attacks. This is clearly a chemical imbalance and needs to be treated as a physical ailment. Best wishes, if you need to chat you message me on messenger at sandstorm_1999.

If You Have Health Anxiety And You Have Symptoms How Do You Know If They Are Real Or Imagined ?

I have been to two doctors that both checked me out pretty good and said that I had Post Tramatic Stress.I am a worrier and wondering how do you know for sure that what you are feeling is real or imagined?Its scarey to think that you could be having a heart attack or stroke and just mark it off as anxiety?Anyone have any clue how to know for sure about health worries?

i agree that's a problem…atleast doctors think we don't have any actual problem. First thing is when you go to your GP tell him the exact symptoms without hesitation….confident patients are treated early cos docs listen to them.

I have started trying this…….let's see if my GP understands my problem.
Good luck to u too.

Taking Propranolol for anxiety actually made my symptoms worse. Why?

Propranolol is a beta blocker used for hypertension; one of its off-label uses is in treatment of (mostly performance) anxiety. I only took it a few times because the symptoms (particularly intense agitation) were so severe.

actually the doc prescribed it for regulating your heart beat irregularity and if so iam sure the drug conc must be 10mg and not the 40mg which is used for hypertension so the doc in my point of view depend on the fact that probranolol pass blood brain barrier and cause drowsiness and hence may keep you calm too and think that your case is not so severe to take benzo drug or any suitable anxiolytic any way you should take to him and if the symptoms is so severe really discontinue medication as soon as possible hope soon recovery

Anxiety Disorders: Dealing With Phobias

One of the most common kinds of anxiety disorders are phobias, which are irrational fears surrounding a specific object or situation. With this type of disorder, the fear is persistent and reoccurring, even though the feared object or situation entering a person’s life is often out of control of that person. This anxiety disorder is affecting up to 18% of Americans and is the second most common mental illness among men and the most common mental illness among woman. For many, phobias interfere with daily life.

Luckily, there is help. There are many ways to treat phobias, no matter how they have developed. If you think that you suffer from a phobia, no matter what it may be, see your doctor immediately. He or she can recommend a treatment plan for you so that you can begin to overcome your fears and take back the control of your daily life. Phobias do not have to say with you forever.

Clinical phobias are separated into three main categories: social phobias (in which a person fears involvement with people and social situations), specific phobias (in which a certain trigger like heights, spiders, water, or flying can cause fear), and agoraphobia (in which a person fears leaving the comfort and familiarity of home or a safe area). There are many different treatments you can try in order to cope with any of these phobias.

Virtual reality is a relatively new kind of treatment used specifically to desensitize a patient. With virtual reality, a person is immersed in fear until becoming immune to it, essentially. You can also actually put the patient in a fearful situation, but this can sometimes be dangerous or expensive, so virtual reality is a great alternative. It also gives patients the chance to pull the plug, so to speak, if needed, so more patients agree to this treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy may also work to help overcome a phobia. With this method, you examine your specific thoughts and behaviors and work to overcome them. You can do this one-on-one with a therapist or in a group setting. By understanding your fears, it may be easier to realize that your fears are irrational.

Anti-anxiety drugs may also help you make strides towards overcoming your phobias. These medications are prescription strength and are available for both long-term and short-term use. One example of a drug that has help people with phobias is benzodiazepine. Often, medication works best in conjunction with other types of therapy treatments.

Technorati Tags: anxiety attacks, anxiety disorders, clinical phobias, panic attacks, social phobias, treating anxiety, treating phobias

What are YOUR Anxiety Symptoms?

Just out of curiousity, what are YOUR anxiety symptoms? How severe? Thank you.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "SEVERE DEPRESSION AND MODERATE ANXIETY" A FEW YEARS AGO

BUT HEARING THIS ONLY MADE MY ANXIETY WORSE

THINKING ABOUT IT
IT SORT OF GAVE ME SOMETHING TO FEAR
KNOWING THAT I HAD IT
HARD TO EXPLAIN

SO….
SYMPTOMS…..

I HAVE TO DRESS IN A CERTAIN WAY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND PEOPLE
I FEEL OUT OF PLACE AS IT IS
SO I MIGHT AS WELL WEAR WHAT EVER I LIKE

I USE SHADES ALL THE TIME TO HIDE MY EYES AND TO HIDE MY EMOTIONS FROM PEOPLE
ALL THE TIME PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT MY EYE COLOR IS

I HAVE FACIAL HAIR
AGAIN WITH THE BEING COMFORTABLE (ALSO BEING SORT OF LAZY)
BUT IT IS ALSO KIND OF SOMETHING ELSE TO HIDE BEHIND
IT DOES BLOCK OUT MY FACE A LITTLE

IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS I CAN FEEL PHSYCALLY SICK (STILL TO ACTUALLY BE SICK BUT THERE IS TIME FOR THAT YET)
AND WHEN IT GETS THIS BAD I START TO SHAKE
HYPERVENTALATE
GO DIZZY
SWEAT A LOT
MY HEART RATE INCREASES
AND I SHAKE

IF THINGS ARE NOT THAT BAD I GENERALLY TRY AND BE FUNNY
MAYBE THE COMEDY IS SOMETHING TO KEEP MY MIND BUSY
AND IF PEOPLE LAUGH AT ME MAYBE THEY WILL LIKE ME AND NOT TALK ABOUT ME BEHIND MY BACK

OH AND THE BITING OF MY NAILS
ALL THE TIME

ANOTHER THING IS THE RANDOM CHEST PAINS

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SETS THESE OFF
BUT YEAH

APPART FROM THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN THINK OF

ALL PEOPLE ARE DIFFERANT THOUGH
SO YOU MIGHT NOT GET THE SAME AS ME OR ANYONE ELSE ON YAHOO
IT IS DOWN TO HOW YOU FEEL